Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

God Will Punish Us if Obama Wins

Bishop Harry Jackson peddles his usual nonsense, telling his congregation that if they vote for Obama, God will punish them and the entire country. Right Wing Watch has the transcript and the video:

Listen to me Black Christian. You are foolish enough to vote against the God that brought you out of slavery, the God that brought you out of the civil rights thing. Just because somebody’s skin is black, you’re gonna support an anti-God, anti-Gospel agenda — no wonder you can’t get a job. If you celebrate your race over grace you ought to do badly. God is spanking you right now. And I got news, you heard it right here, the folks that sign onto this now and support the president right now in this will find that their best days are behind them….Four more years of Barack Obama will ensure an aggressive anti-Christian spirit that has currently grabbed hold of the administration and this country. Beware my Christian friend, you should not vote for Barack Obama.

“… no wonder you can’t get a job. If you celebrate your race over grace you ought to do badly. God is spanking you right now.”

Ah, now I get it. The whole Republican argument against Obama’s economic and business policies is just for show. That’s an irrelevant smoke-screen for the real problem: not enough pandering and cowering to God. Once again, God smites the lowly to punish the high.

You are foolish enough to vote against the God that brought you out of slavery, the God that brought you out of the civil rights thing.

Mr. Jackson, please read your Bible and some real history books (hint: stay away from anything with David Barton as the author). The god you worship brought you into slavery.
Oh, and learn a little respect for the shoulders you’re standing on. It was the Civil Rights Movement. The way you turn a phrase makes it seem like the struggle black Americans faced (and still face today) for equality was no big deal. Ungrateful theist wretch.

I just wanted to chime in and concur with #16, #18, and others; This is EXACTLY what a religious ministry claiming tax exempt status is PROHIBITED from doing. These kinds of violations, however, sadly, it seems to me, are rarely or even simply never investigated and/or penalized, thus rendering the political advocacy prohibitions in the tax code meaningless.

If this Holy Man’s ministry is not claiming the religious tax exemptions, then, by all means, of course, he should say exactly what he feels! I would put myself in harms way, without a moments hesitation, to defend his right to do so, despite finding his message to be dispicable. But, of course his ministy IS taking the exemptions. He should play by the very important rules here.

@16, @18 and @25: I hope Jackson’s church’s tax-exempt status isn’t yanked. I don’t want to give him the opportunity to play the martyr (“I’m being persecuted by a politicized IRS for speaking the truth about the evil that is Barack Obama!”)

I would think that a country that freely and openly chooses a leader who is a member of a heretical church, one that denies the authority and veracity of the Bible and claims to have an alternative “true” Gospel, would be subject to God’s wrath.